Method of atomizing liquids



Dec. 12, 1939. A. J. LOEPSlNGl ER METHOD OF ATOMIZING LIQUIDS Filed July 22, 1956 M812?! J ZOEPSINGZ'R Patented Dec. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES iii METHOD OF ATOMIZING LIQUIDS Albert J. Loepsinger, Providence, R. I., assignor g g to General Fire Extinguisher Company, Providence, R. L, a corporation of Delaware Application .July 22, 1936, Serial No. 91,813 2 Claims. (01. 29963) This invention relates to an improved method of particles to regions where such remainder may be atomizing liquids. It will be particularly described collected and disposed of entirely separate from in connection with the atomization of water for the useful fog formed at the place of impact. purposes of humidifying air but the method is The marked efficiency obtained by my improved 5 not so limited and may be practiced with other method is due primarily to the fact that the finely I liquids and for other purpos9s atomized particles pass directly into the atmos- A common method of humidifying enclosures is phere without coming in contact with any surface to introduce sensible moisture therein in the form upon which they might condense. Moreover, of a fog. Where a high percentage of relative since there is no fixed barrier against which the humidity is to be maintained, it is most desirable water is thrown for atomization there is no en- 10.

that this fog be composed of exceedingly fine particles so that evaporation will take place before any of them are precipitated upon objects or materials. Heretofore one way in which this result has been attempted is to direct a fine stream of water at high velocity against a fixed anvil. Another Way, widely practiced in the art, involves throwing water by centrifugal force from the edge of a rotor against a series of fixed barriers or impact blades. In both methods complete atom- 4 ization of all the water is impossible and in every instance it is necessary to provide some sort of chamber or duct in which separation of the fine particles from the coarse ones is effected. The 35 necessity of a chamber or duct greatly reduces the efficiency of such methods because it is unavoidable that a considerable portion of the fine particles is condensed on the surfaces with which they come in contact. When a series of impact blades or pegs are used in locations such as textile mills where lint and fly are prevalent in the atmosphere, the textile fibers collect on the pegs and finally form a felt-like accumulation which adversely affects the atomization of the water in that it acts with some cushioning effect upon the water directed toward the blades. Frequent cleaning of such apparatus is, of course, necessary.

My present invention involves a new method of atomizing a liquid which consists in initially imparting kinetic energy to the liquid, then suddenly resisting this energy in a manner to effect the atomization of a portion of the liquid into exceedingly fine particles, and simultaneously im- 5 parting to the remainder of the liquid additional kinetic energy in a manner to cause said remainder to move in directions divergent from that of the finely atomized particles. In other words, my improved method comprises projecting liquid 50 against a moving surface in such manner that at the place of impact a portion of the liquid is broken up into extremely fine particles which can float unrestrainedly into the free atmosphere while the remainder of the liquid is diverted in 55 directions divergent from that of the floating PATENT OFFICE].

trapping of lint or fly, such foreign matter as is picked up from the atmosphere being carried off and washed away by the unused remainder of the liquid.

The improved method may be practiced with 15 various forms of apparatus provided only that the liquid is projected against a moving surface in a region exposed to the free atmosphere and in such manner that the impact of the liquid against such surface changes a portion of the liquid into 50 finely atomized liquid particles which float freely into the atmosphere while the remainder of the liquid is impelled by the surface in directions di-, vergent from that of the atomized portion. As illustrative of how the improved method may be 85 practiced a suitable form of apparatus is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a. plan; and

Figure 2 is an elevation in section as on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the liquid may be projected under suitable pressure from one or more jet nozzles 1 against the surface 2a of a moving disk 2.- The kinetic energy of the liquid is suddenly and abruptly resisted by the surface '5 and, as a result, a portion of the liquid is atomized into fine particles (indicated by the dots p) which float off freely into the free atmosphere. The remainder of the liquid is given additional kinetic energy by the moving surface 20 and is 40 diverted in directions divergent from that of the fog particles 11.

In the particular apparatus illustrated, the remainder of the liquid leaves the edge of the rotating disk 2 and is entrapped by a casing I which leads the water, and any lint or fly carried thereby, nto a drain 4. The disk 2 may be conveniently mounted on one end of a shaft 5 of a motor 6, on the opposite end of which may be added, if desired, a fan 1 for propelling a blast of air toward and around the casing 3 to aid in the propagation of the fog particles through the atmosphere.

The desired fog is produced by projecting the water against a moving surface whereby a portion 5 of the liquid is broken up into extremely fine particles which float away into the atmosphere, the remainder of the liquid being thrown oil in a divergent direction where it may be collected and disposed of entirely separately from the useful fog formed. The latter, as stated, passes directly into the free air without coming in contact with any surface upon which it might condense, hence there is no loss of the useful fog particles in the practice of my improved method.

I claim:

1. A method of atomizing a liquid which comprises projecting the liquid against a surface, exposed to the free air and moving in directions divergent from the direction in which the liquid is projected, with such force that the impact of the liquid with said surface eflects an atomization of a portion of the liquid into fine particles into said free air which float away from the surface into the atmosphere, while the remainder of said liquid moves along said surface, receives kinetic energy therefrom and is discharged therefrom in said divergent directions.

2. A method of atomizing a liquid which comprises projecting the liquid against a surface, exposed to the free air and moving in directions divergent from the direction in which the liquid is projected, with such force that the impact of the liquid with said surface effects an atomization of a portion of the liquid into fine particles into said free air which float away from the surface into the atmosphere, while the remainder of said liquid moves along said surface, receives kinetic energy therefrom and is discharged therefrom in said divergent directions; and collecting the said remainder to thereby prevent its passing into the free air.

ALBERT J. LOEPSINGER. 

